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01/4/2005 - Christchurch - Day 1 After hours of flight, we finally reach New Zealand (Middle Earth). Just before our plane landed, our pilot informed us that the weather is prefect with sunny sky and tempeture at 22C. Everyone was a bit doubtful about this(even the flight attentants), as today is April's Fool. Furthermore, I have been monitoring the NZ Metservice - it was raining in most part of NZ for the past week! As our plane approching Auckland International Airport , we have our first glance of Middle Earth and saw pretty coastline and hills. It is true, Auckland greeted us with a warm welcome, the weather is prefect as told by the pilot!!! After clearing the custom(no issue as we declared what we bring in - lots of Maggi Mee, Nestum & Milo), we decided to walk(instead taking the free bus transfer) to Domestic terminal, as the weather is fine : - )) The flight to Christchurch took us around 1 hour. On the way, saw sometings that I was not expected to. Althought I have read that scenery at the Canterbury is beautiful, I guess I am not prepare for what I have seen - unbelieveable!! White snow capped mountains and green flat plains. {Special thanks to a NZ lady who give out her window seat to me} (Pic - 01a)
After landed in Christchurch (quite cold here)- City of Garden (Pic - 01b), call EZY Car Rental to pick up our car. We got ourselves a Nissan Pulsar, Auto, 1.5 and white. I drove it to the city center to look for our first night accomodation at Charlie B. We have some scare due to navigation problem and traffic system. Nevertheless, we are doing quite well to reach our destination. However, my biggest concern is the way the traffic light for car to turn(which one has to wait for the opposite car go straight first). The room and place is ok, we have a quad room for 4(Pic - 01c). Without further delay, we are on the road again to Christchurch Gondola. However, we were told that heavy cloud covered the top of the mountain and it is not possible to view the city : - ( Sadly, we just spent some moments near the station to take some photos. After that, back to city centre to take our dinner at a Japanese Restaurant(surpise! because it is quite late and not much choices - erghhhhh, we are very hungry too). Then, we walk to the Cathedral Square . One will noticed great care has been taken to preserve Canterbury 's colonial heritage. Grand architecture, historic homesteads and immaculate parks intermingle with the technology and style of modern life. (Pic -01d)
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